Mechanism foe



APPLICATION FILED NOV*l 20| I9I7.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

WILLIAM E. COOK, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

COLLECTING IVIECHANISM FOR CARDINGMACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug, 12, 1919.

Application filed November 20, 1917. Serial No. 2702,953.

ticularly to a supporting structure for the containers in which theV sliver is spirally wound, and to a particular form of container adapted to coperate with this structure.

Collecting mechanisms of the character to which my invention relates, have heretofore embodied therein a rotatable container having a false bottom acted upon by a supporting spring. The sliver was delivered to this container by a suitable winding device carried by the cover of the container, the sliver being more or less compactedV within the container as the result of the thrust of said supporting spring toward the cover. As thesliver accumulates in the container, the false bottom will gradually be depressed by the incoming sliver until the container is filled. This condition results in the development of a variable gradually increasing pressure upon the sliver in the container, which I have found to develop more or less undesirable conditions in the contents of a container when the sliver is used in other machines particularly in machines for applying this sliver to conductor wires as a covering of insulating material therefor. This mechanism for collecting the sliver has a further disadvantage that after the container has been completely filled, it is necessary to dump the coil of sliver therefromV into another, and larger, container Vwhich disturbs the uniformity of the coil,

and has a tendency to entangle and mat portions of the sliver to a degree which interferes with the rapid withdrawal of the sliver from the container'to which it is transferred.

A collecting mechanism made in accordance with my invention is designed to have cotton sliver coiled in a rotating container Y under conditions which will prevent a gradual increase of the pressure exerted upon the f coil, and preserve more or less, the uniformity of the pressure to which the coil is subjected. The container .itself when completely filled, may be removed from the carding. machine to its operative relation with othermachines for treating or utilizing the sliver, thus avoiding the necessity for transferring the contents of the container into which the sliver is delivered by the carding machine to a second and larger container; and eliminating` all possibility of entangling or matting the sliver during this transfer, or as the result of the expansion of the coil in the container to which itis transferred. r A

A machine made in `accordance with my invention maybe so constructed as to absolutely control the'maXimum pressure eX- erted upon the sliver, after its Adelivery to `the container, it being possible to so regulate this mechanism as to practically eliminate this pressure if desired. Y

` In a machine made in accordance with my invention, I use a container having a falsev bottom supported by a plunger forming a' permanent part of the collecting-mechanism structure, this plunger being so supported as to prevent any such binding thereof as will develop such frictional resistance to its Y. free movement as might vary the pressure conditions as to the sliver within the container. I so construct the machine as to eliminate -friction,wherever possible, in the parts acting upon and appurtenant'to this plunger so askto insure absolute freedom of 'l movement of the plunger.

A mechanism made in accordance with my invention is so constructed as to avoid any possibility of the support forthe false bottom of the container interfering with the'y yproper coiling of thesliver, and resultant provide means whereby the plunger, which has a normal thrust toward the top of the container, may be lowered to the full extent i to facilitate the mounting of' a container upon its support, or its removal therefrom.

The invention consistsprimarily/in a collecting mechanism for carding machines embodying therein a rotatable support for a container, a reciprocatory plunger projecting through said support and ada ted to project within and support a moi/able false bottom of a container upon said support, and means acting upon said plunger whereby substantially uniform resistance is offered to the depression of said plunger, and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing one element of a collecting mechanism, part-ly in elevation and partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the supports for the containers and the actuating means therefor, and

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the connection between the support and the plunger.

Lilie letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings, l have shown merely a collecting mechanism, with its associated containers mounted upon two of the rotating supports, the delivery mechanism by means of which the sliver is coiled within said containers being omitted be-l cause such is old and well known in this art and has no new and useful functions by reason of the structure of the collecting mechanism.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the main frame of the machine which is adapted to be situated within a pit adjacent the delivery end of a carding machine, is shown as being composed of top and bottom plates c and o suitably connected and spaced apart by Vmeans of vertical, parallel guide rods c. Suitably mounted upon the top plate a is a plurality of supports Z each of which carries a Ojear c. Each support Z is preferably provided with a peripheral iange as shown, and any desired number of said supports may be employed. The various gears e are entrained by means of intermediate, idler gears e', all of said gears being simultaneously driven from a gear f upon a power shaft f', and an idler intermediate gear f2 connected with one of the intermediate gears e in order to secure the desired speed of rotation of the several supports (Z.

The guide bars c are arranged in pairs, below the supports cl respectively, each bar of said guides having slidably mounted thereon, a traveler block g having suitable bearings g-g2 coperating with said guides. Connected to the opposite sides of each traveler block g, by means of flexible connections fr passing over pulleys 7L on the underside of the top plate a., are weights LZ.

Rotatably mounted upon the traveler block g is a plunger i, having an enlarged bearing z" at the lower end thereof, suitable antifriction devices being disposed between the bearing and the traveler blocl g. The brackets g3 upon said block serve to hold said plunger z' in relation to said block.

The plunger i extends through the support d, the upper end thereof being provided with a table head 2 adapted to support the false bottom j of a container j, which container has anopening in the bottom thereof of sufficiently great diameter to permit the passage of said table head and an inwardly directed flange of suflicient width to prevent the escape of the bottom j therethrough.

The plunger z' is slidably mounted in relation to its coperating support d, while receiving a rotary movement therefrom. While the desired cooperation of the support al and the plunger z' might be secured by means of an ordinary spline or feather, I have found in practice that to avoid the development of pressure upon the sliver within the container in eXcess of that predetermined by the adjustments of this mechanisni, it is essential to provide an anti-friction connection between the support. d and the plunger coperating therewith. I have also found it necessary to provide a balanced condition, upon opposite sides of said plunger to avoid binding between it and the support. ln order to minimize possibility of binding at this point, 1 provide the plunger z', at diametrically opposite points thereof, with key ways as shown in Fig. 3, the depth of which is sufficient to receive the roller bearings 7c mounted upon suitable pintles 7c secured to the support CZ. This structure is made possible because the power required to turn the plunger i is very small, and the ball bearings between the bearings 7c and the traveler block g eliminate frictional resistance to the rotary movement of said plunger.

The weights h2 normally overbalance the aggregate weight of the traveler block g, and plunger z' and its appurtenances so as to impart a normal upward thrust to said plunger, or offer sufficient resistance to its downward movement under the control of the coiled sliver, to secure the desired compaction of this sliver. To facilitate the regulation of this resistance to that required, 1 form the weights h2 as cups loaded with shot or other small removable particle. In this manner it is possible to apply substantially the same power, or resistance, to diametrically opposite points of the support Z and thus insure a substantially parallel movement of this block.

rlllhe delivery mechanism coiling the sliver within the container y' forms a part of the carding machine and in'order to facilitate the mounting of empty containers in relation to this mechanism, and the removal of said containers when lled, it is desirable o to provide some convenient method of overcoming the load of the weights h2 during this operation. This result I secure, by providing a flexible connection m, one end of which is exposed above the top plate a and the other end of which is connected with Vthe bottom of the traveler block g after said connection has passed about a pulley n mounted between the guide rods c upon the Vbottom plate b. Vhile in the accompanying drawings, I

have shown a collecting mechanism consisting of a gang of four supports d and their appurtenances, it is apparent that the number of said supports is immaterial to 2O the invention,-and may be varied to accord with the requirements of 'any particular carding machine. Inl the drawings,` I have not duplicated the showing of the plunger c' and its coperating parts, since each of these mechanisms is' identical with every other and has exactly the same mode of operation.V

In describing the operation of the colrlecting mechanism, I will also limit the description of the functions ofone support (l and its appurtenances.

The frame a and b and guide rods c are positioned in a pit adjacent the delivery end of a carding machine with the supports (l in axial alinement with the cover for the containers j carried by said cardin machine. The support` Z is continuous y rotated from the carding machine actuating mechanism. Vhen it is desired to mount i 4o a container y' upon a support, the traveler block g is pulled downwardly by means of the cord or chain m and the container j with the false, or movable, bottom therein is mounted upon the supports Z within the iiange thereof. This mounting of the container positions the table head i2 within the bottom of the container in contact with the bottom j thereof. When the container has been thus positioned on the support d, the cord or chain m is released thus permitting the weights h2 to raise the block g and position the bottom y" adjacent the top of said container.

Power is then applied to the carding machine thus causing rotation of the support cl. As the cotton sliver is delivered within the container j upon the bottom y" thereof, the movement of the said bottom to accommodate this sliver, is resisted by the weights h2, the resistance, however, not being suliiciently great to cause a substantial compact or matting of the fibers of the sliver. With lthe continuous operation of the carding machine, and the gradual accumu- 65 lation of the sliver, in the form of a coil,

within the container j, the plunger z' will continue to descend without any increase in the resistance from the weights h2 to this movement, there being in fact a slight diminution of this resistance due tothe weight of the accumulated sliver restin upon or acting against said bottom j. he effect of the gradual augmentation upon the load of said bottom is minimized somewhat, however, by the slight friction developed .'75 between the outer surface of the coiled sliver and the inner wall'of the container j so that there will be a substantially uniform resistance to the downward movement of the bottom. If the plunger z' were to so bindupon the support d, a condition would develop lin which the pressure exerted upon the contents of the container would be materially increased and thus result in excessive compaction of the coils of the sliver, within the said container. It is for this reason that I use the roller or ball bearings 7c and the roller bearingsbetWeen the bearing i and the guide block c, this latter arrangement minimizing thel friction between the said roller or ball bearings lc' and the walls of the key way in the plunger By the construction described, I secure in a more or less crude mechanism delicacy of adjustment which in practice has given very satisfactory results.V The weights h2 do little more than positively overbalance the load of the block g and plunger z' and its appurtenances, thus practically limiting the compacting pressure upon the sliver to that developed by the frictional resistance encountered by the coil at the inner wall of the container.

It is desired to emphasize that when the container is filled to its utmost capacity the pressure exerted upon the sliver therein by the plunger 4i is no greater than that exerted upon the first bight of the sliver laid upon the bottoms y" and in fact would probably be gradually lessened as the container fills.

Vhen the container is filled, the ordinary attachments used in carding machines, will stop the said carding machine and with it the support d, ordinary carding machine attachments also serving t0 stop. this mecha- 115 nism in the event of the breakage of the sliver. Y

When the container is completely filled, it is merely necessary to raise the cover inv the usual manner and remove the container j with its contentsfrom the supports d and transport it to the proper relation with the machine in which the sliver is further treated or utilized.

By reason of the uniform conditions under which the sliver is laid in the container, I have found that the sliver may be readily withdrawn therefrom without those inconveniencesl or delays resulting from the matting of the fibers of different layers of the sliver, or from unequal density of different portions of the coil. This condition permits the rapid withdrawal of the sliver and avoids losses of time in the subsequent handling of the sliver.

In covering wires with sliver, l have found that the covering machine may be run at high speed without likelihood of breakage of the sliver as the result of resistance to the withdrawal thereof from the container, thus avoiding frequent breakages of the sliver and resultant irregularities in the density of different portions of the insulating material upon the wire.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is l. A collecting mechanism for carding machines, embodying` therein a rotatable support for a container, an open bottom container removably mounted upon said support, a false bottom movably mounted in said container, a reciprocatory plunger proj ecting through said support and adapted to project within and support said movable false bottom, and means acting upon said plunger whereby substantially uniform resistance is offered to the depression ot said plunger.

2. A collecting mechanism for carding machines embodying therein a rotatable support for a container, an open bottom container removably mounted upon said support, a false bottom movably mounted in said container, parallel guides below said support, a traveler block slidably mounted von said guides, a reciprocatory plunger rotatably mounted upon said traveler block, proj ccting through, slidably mounted in, and rotatable with said support and adapted to project within, and support said movable false bottom, and a weight acting upon said traveler block whereby substantially uniform resistance is offered to the depression of said plunger.

3. A collecting mechanism for carding machines embodying therein a rotatable support Yfor a container, an open bottom container removably mounted upon said support, a false bottom movably mounted in said container, parallel `guides below said support, a traveler block slidably mounted on said guides, a reciprocatory plunger rotatably mounted upon said traveler block, projecting through, slidably mounted in and rotatable with said support and adapted to project within, and support said movable false bottom, and a plurality of balanced weights acting upon opposite sides of said traveler block, whereby substantially uniform resistance is oiiered to the depression of said plunger.

4L. A collecting mechanism for carding machines embodying therein a rotatable support for a container, an open bottom container removably mounted upon said support, a false bottom movably mounted in said container, parallel guides below said support, a traveler block slidably mounted on said guides, a reciprocatory plunger rotatably mounted upon said traveler block, projecting through, slidably mounted in, and rotatable with said support and adapted to project within, and support said movable false bottom, and a plurality of balanced, adjustable weights acting upon opposite sides of said traveler block, whereby substantially uniform resistance is oiered to the depression of said plunger.

5. A collecting mechanism for carding machines embodying therein a rotatable support for a container, an open bottom container removably mounted upon said support, a false bottom movably mounted in said container, parallel guides below said support, a traveler block slidably mounted on said guides, a reciprocatory plunger projecting through, slidably mounted in, and rotatable with said support and adapted to project within, and support said movable Yr'alse bottom, an anti-friction bearing between said plunger and said traveler block, means holding said plunger in relation to said block, and a plurality of weights acting upon opposite sides of said traveler block, whereby substantially uniform resistance is offered to the depression of said plunger.

6, A collecting mechanism for carding machines embodying therein a rotatable support for a container, a reciprocatory plunger projecting through said support and adapted to project within and support a movable false bottom of a container upon said support, said plunger having a key way therein, an anti-friction member carried by said support and seated in said key way whereby said plunger rotates with, and is slidable in relation to, said support, and means acting upon said plunger whereby substantially uniform resistance is offered to the depression of said plunger'.

7. A collecting mechanism for carding machines embodying therein a rotatable support for a container, a reciprocatory plunger projecting through said support and adapted to project within and `support a movable false bottom of a container upon lsaid support, said plunger having diametrically opposite key ways therein, a roller bearing seated in each of said key ways and pintles upon which said bearings are mounted, carried by said support, whereby said plunger rotates with, and is slidable in relation to, said support, and

means acting upon said plunger whereby substantially uniform resistance is oiered to the depression of said plunger.

8. A collecting mechanism for carding machines embodying therein a rotatable support for a container, a reciprocatory plunger projecting through said support and adapted to project within and support a movable false bottom of a container upon said support, means acting upon said plunger whereby substantially uniform resistance is ot :tered to the depression of said plunger, and means whereby said plunger may be drawn downwardly to permit the mounting of a container in said support.

9. A collecting mechanism for carding machines embodying therein a rotatable support for a container, parallel guides below said support, a traveler block slidably mounted on said guides, a' reciprocatory plunger rotatably mounted upon said traveler block, projecting through, slidably mounted in, and rotatable with said support and adapted to project within and support a movable false bottom for a container upon said support, a weight acting upon said traveler block, whereby substantially uniform resistance is offered to the depress sion of said plunger,vand a pull cord attached to the bottom of said traveler block,

passed about a pulley and exposed adjacent said support, whereby said plunger may be drawn downwardly to permit the mounting' of a container upon said support.

10. A collecting mechanism for carding machines embodying therein a rotatable support for a container, a reciprocatory plunger projecting through said support and adapted to project within and support a movable false bottom of a container upon said support, means acting upon said plunger whereby substantially uniform resistance is of; fered to the depression of said plunger, in combination with a container adapted .to be mounted in said support, having an open bottom through which said plunger may project, and a movable bottom adapted to be supported by said plunger whereby a lled container may be removed from said support to a mechanism for further v"treating or utilizing the sliver. r

In'witness whereof, I vhereunto afiX my signature, in the presence Vof two subscribinglwitnesses, this 14th day of November, 191

' WILLIAM E. COOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

